RECAP: ‘Game of Thrones’ Season 7, Episode 3 “The Queen’s Justice”

Dany and Jon meet and form a tenuous alliance, while Cersei executes revenge against the Sand Snakes and House Tyrell. Full recap of Game of Thrones episode, “The Queen’s Justice”, plus preview of episode 4 “The Spoils of War”.

Courtesy of Helen Sloan/HBO

“The Queen’s Justice” begins with the moment we’ve all been clamoring for, the first meeting between Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow. Jon and Davos arrive on the shores of Dragonstone and are greeted by Tyrion, Missandei, and a contingent of Dothraki soldiers. Jon and Davos must immediately surrender their weapons and even their boat. As they make their way to the castle, Jon and Tyrion reminisce about the last time they were together at Castle Black. Tyrion also asks about Sansa and speaks highly of her (while making sure to emphasize that their marriage was never consumated). Their conversations are interrupted when the dragons fly by and swoop down, causing Jon and Davos to drop to the ground.

And immediately I have so many feels. Do the dragons recognize Jon as a Targaryen? Will Jon get a chance to make a closer acquaintance with the dragons? If you believe rumors, this is the first time in a LONG time that three Targaryens (Dany, Jon, Tyrion) and three dragons are all under one roof in Dragonstone. WOWSA!

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

When Jon and Davos are led inside, Dany is sitting on her throne in the audience room. Missandei gives a very eloquent introduction, listing all of Dany’s titles, rightful Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi, Mother of Dragons, etc. On the other hand, Jon gets a much more humble intro from Davos: “This is Jon Snow. He’s King in the North.”

Interestingly, Dany ignores Jon’s title of King, and refers back to when the last King in the North, Torrhen Stark, bent the knee to Aegon I Targaryen, swearing the initial pact of fealty of House Stark to House Targaryen, in perpetuity. From there, Dany tries to convince Jon to confirm House Stark’s loyalty to her by bending the knee, promising peace and prosperity, but Jon repeatedly refuses. He doesn’t know Dany. And like his Bannerman reminded him, the Targaryens have done terrible things to Jon’s relations in very recent memory. In an unexpected turn of events, Dany apologizes of behalf of her House and asks that Jon not hold the sins of the father against the daughter. After all, Dany is the last Targaryen… 😉 🙂 😉

Jon tries to reorient the conversation to talk about the impending threat of the Army of the Dead. Once the Night King arrives, none of this Westerosi politics will matter. But Dany refuses to waste time and resources on some White Walker fairy tale. Her fervent faith in herself, despite rape, betrayal, and constant death threats, is what has brought Dany this far and will see her through to sit on the Iron Throne. It is her destiny. But Davos asserts that Jon Snow also has a destiny. He has also survived betrayal and death to be named King of the North and lead his House against the White Walkers. Does this impasse mean there can be no resolution?

Their conversation is interrupted by Varys (who just finished calling out Mellisandre for hiding from Jon, the person she supposedly came to Dragonstone to champion). He has learned all about Euron’s attack on the Greyjoys and Sandsnakes and their fates are unknown.

In King’s Landing, Euron arrives to a parade, literally dragging Ellaria, Tyene, and Yara behind him. When they get to the Red Keep, he presents Ellaria and Tyene as his gifts to Cersei. Cersei is actually impressed and says she’ll marry Euron… after the war is won. And then Cersei executes her own justice. She has Ellaria and Tyene bound and gagged in the dungeons. Cersei then kisses Tyene with the same poison on her lips that Ellaria used on Myrcella…the Long Farewell. (Qyburn is the worst!) Ellaria will be forced to watch her own daughter die and decay. As Cersei leaves them, Ellaria and Tyene struggle to reach each other, but their bindings won’t allow them to meet.

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

Courtesy of Helen Sloan/HBO

Executing her punishment must put Cersei in the mood because she goes straight to Jaime and seduces him. The next morning after they’ve slept together, Cersei isn’t at all shy about having servants see them together. Incidentally, she has a guest, a representative from the Iron Bank of Braavos. The Lannisters are deep in debt and the Iron Bank is thinking of shifting their investment to back Dany in the war. However, Cersei pleads her case, saying that the war is already underway and she had drawn first blood. Lannisters always pay their debts. If this representative can wait two weeks, she will pay the debt in full. But how???

Back at Dragonstone, Jon is frustrated. He can’t afford to be detained at Dragonstone. Tyrion comes to speak to Jon, who’s even more convinced that Dany needs House Stark (withthe Ironborn and Dornish alliances broken). Tyrion does believe Jon, but it’s unreasonable for Jon to ask Dany, who he’s just met, to pick up and fight what many believe to be an imaginary enemy. So Tyrion tells Jon to ask for something he can reasonably do to help: dragonglass!

Tyrion is able to convince Dany to let Jon mine the dragonglass under Dragonstone. She’ll even provide the supplies and manpower. Dany will make this first step towards forming an alliance between their Houses. Jon and Dany actually have a bonding moment about the mystique of dragons and loss of family. And I’m all: That’s your Auntie, Jon! Dany, that’s your nephew!

Courtesy of Helen Sloan/HBO

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

Meanwhile, the Unsullied make their attack on Casterly Rock. With Tyrion’s knowledge of the underground sewage system, Greyworm and his contingent break in and let all their fellows inside. “Give me ten good men, and I’ll impregnate the bitch!” Thank you Ser Bronn, LOL. The trouble is that Casterly Rock has, for the most part, been abandoned. The Unsullied are further trapped when Euron burns the ships that transport the Unsullied. Now they have no choice but to cross Westeros on foot.

But where are the Lannisters? They are marching on the Tyrells at Highgarden. It’s incredible because now Cersei has the gold she needs to pay the Iron Bank and continue in the war. When Jaime goes to Lady Olenna to accept her defeat, she knows she has to die. Jaime decides to give her a poison, the other part of Cersei’s justice. During their conversation, Lady Olenna confronts Jaime about Cersei’s many atrocities. Why would Jaime stand by a monster? But Lady Olenna sees that he’s deep in his Cersei love-haze, “You poor fool. She’ll be the end of you.” After Lady Olenna takes the poison, she makes a major confession: she’s the one who had Joffrey killed. “Tell Cersei. I want her to know it was me.” WOW.SA.

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

In other events:

The surviving Ironborn loyal to Yara pluck Euron out of the sea. He claims that he tried to save Yara, but that’s not true. UGH.

At Winterfell, Bran and Meera arrive and meet Sansa. It’s clear that Bran’s responsibilities being the Three-Eyed Raven are weighing on him. He’s eager to see Jon though… I think we know why (R+L=J!!!). Bran tries to explain things to Sansa, but she doesn’t quite understand. Bran’s clearest articulation is when he tells Sansa about her wedding/night and apologizes for what she’s suffered. She’s definitely triggered by the memories and hastens to leave. Incidentally, it’s interesting that just as Littlefinger counsels Sansa to consider all battles, alternatives, and outcomes, her brother who can see all past and present arrives.

Jorah is healed! The procedure and concoction (with dragonglass?) that Samwell used works. When the Archmaester evaluates Jorah and sees that he’s healed of the greyscale, he doesn’t seem surprised, but tells Jorah he can leave. As for Jorah, he’s headed to meet Dany. Despite the risks Samwell takes to help Jorah, the Archmaester is impressed with him. “I read the book and followed the instructions.” May we all do the same, Sam! His reward? Archmaester won’t kick Sam out of the Citadel, but it’s back to the drudge work.

We’re just going to ignore that episode 4 has been leaked online, and continue with our preview and speculations for “The Spoils of War” (written by David Benioff and DB Weiss, directed by Mark Mylod):

Let’s talk about these preview images. First, I can’t believe Theon has the nerve to show his face at Dragonstone. What’s he going to say to Dany? Maybe he’ll lie again about trying to save Yara, UGH.

Second, We know that Jon is still at Dragonstone… is Jaime there too??? The background in that photo looks very familiar, and if Jaime is there, no good can come of it. But Dany is done with the “clever plans” anyway, and she’s ready to go to war too.

Third, the synopsis, coupled with the images, suggests that Arya arrives at Winterfell! This would explain Sansa’s shock, Brienne and Pod’s low-key smile, and Littlefinger’s animosity. Hmmm, but this might be a chance for Sansa and Arya to get together to take out Littlefinger.

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

Courtesy of Helen Sloan/HBO

Courtesy of Helen Sloan/HBO

Courtesy of Helen Sloan/HBO

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

Courtesy of Macall B. Polay/HBO

Courtesy of Helen Sloan/HBO

Watch the preview trailer and join us to watch and live tweet “The Spoils of War” on August 6 at 9p/8c on HBO!